A Los Angeles-based nonprofit opened an early childhood center specifically for children whose families are seeking asylum in the United States. This center is one of the only places available where migrant children can play and learn for free.

STAT TO NOTE

56 – Plate appearances after the All-Star break, down from 171 through the first half of the season. Cordoba’s OPS dropped from .616 before the All-Star game to .459 the final three months of the season.

TRENDING

Idle – The Panama native had never played a game above rookie ball when the Padres selected him with the third overall selection in the Rule 5 draft. St. Louis’ front office doubted that such an inexperienced player could stick all year in the majors, but the Padres – early in this rebuild project – didn’t find it all that hard. They gave him starts in left field (24), shortstop (15), center field (2) and right (1) and plate appearances off the bench (29) in blowout losses. His highs include a pinch-hit homer off Jaime Garcia for the first of his career, a pair of three-hit games, a .308 May and the strides he showed defensively in left field, where he was praised by Padres manager Andy Green as a potential plus defender down the road. The lows? He hit .095 against left-handed pitching, .148 in June and received only two starts over the final two months of the season.

2018 OUTLOOK

Cordoba’s sparse playing time down the stretch could be a predictor of his 2018 role. The Padres, because of the Rule 5 rules, had to keep him on the active roster last year to keep him in the organization. Now, they can stash him in the minors to continue his development and an assignment to Double-A San Antonio – likely as an outfielder – could be on the table if Cordoba doesn’t wow the staff in camp. If that’s the case, a 22-year-old in the Texas League is not the least bit out of place.

San Diego Padres shortstop Allen Cordoba looks to throw to first as Atlanta Braves' Johan Camargo arrives safely during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 29, 2017, in San Diego.

FIBA will look at adjusting travel demands on teams at the next World Cup, after this tournament in China led to many complaints about the distances that nations participating in the knockout stages had to cover without much time to prepare for games.